Suspended manager Ian Atkins says he hopes Oxford United clinch promotion this season - for the sake of the players who have worked so hard for it.

Atkins seems resigned to the fact that he is unlikely to return to the Kassam Stadium again this campaign after being suspended by the club 11 days ago when Bristol Rovers announced he was to be their manager next season.

But he urged supporters not to forget what he had achieved in turning the club around.

The U's were in fourth place in the Division 3 table when he was dumped.

He said: "I want the team to go up because we put in so much hard work over the season."

And although most fans seem delighted that new caretaker boss Graham Rix has changed the team's shape to play with a flat back four and wingers, Atkins doesn't believe it will bring better results.

"My own view is that if you're playing with just one up front, that is less attacking because you end up having nine behind the ball all the time. And playing with wingbacks made us very solid."

Whatever happens this season, Atkins believes he can hold his head high.

"I'm frustrated because I wanted to finish the job I was doing and get the team promoted.

"Personally, I feel I'm in a no-lose situation. If they go up, people will say it was my team, and because we'd had so few defeats, and if they don't, it will be because it's all collapsed after I left.

"But I genuinely don't want that. I want to see Oxford go up."

The Football League are investigating Rovers' appointment of Atkins after receiving a letter of complaint from United.

"We have taken up the matter with the two clubs involved," said a League spokesman. "Once it has been investigated, we may then be in a position to say something."

Mansfield closed the gap on United to two points by beating fellow play-off contenders Torquay 2-1 at Field Mill last night. All the goals came in the first 17 minutes.

Leaders Doncaster scored in the last minute through Mark Albrighton to salvage a 1-1 draw at Rochdale to go four points clear of Hull, who travel to Boston tonight.